Counting, I consider, may be seen as the beginning of a child's internalization of number concepts. As Tad has written children can often be seen, and heard, counting whilst pointing to a number of objects but showing no one-to-one correspondence. The work by Steffe indicates that, to me at least and I hope to others too, through counting a child begins to understand and form a concept of the relationship between numbers. Maybe twenty or so years ago I used counting to help children come to understand the relationship between repeated addition and multiplication. I really don't know if I succeeded in helping to develop this and related concepts but I certainly tried. Perhaps if I was to be placed in the same or a similar situation today I would go about it differently but still attempt to help the child to learn about the relationships which exist between numbers in general and the importance of counting.Regards,K